Paul h



(No Model.)

P. H. BRANGS.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

an. `l, 1889.

Patente llinTTnn STaTns PATENT Ormes,

PAUL H. BRANGS, OF NEVARK, NEV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNITED STATES ELECTRIC LIGHTING COMPANY, OF NET YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRICAL. swrrcs.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 395,609, dated `January 1, 1889.

Application filed February 14, 1888. Serial No. 263,985. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PAUL H. BRANGs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Switches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the same.

This invention is an improvement in electrical switches, or that class of devices which are used for making and breaking an electric circuit, or for shifting the current from one circuit to another, or for other and similar purposes, and it pertains more especially to that particular kind or form of switch in which the circuit making and breaking or shifting element or part is thrown or shifted from one position to another by a sudden or practically instantaneous movement. In such devices as heretofore made this action has generally been accomplished by shifting the line of tension of either a compressed or distended spring across the Fulcrum of the contact making and breaking element or of Aa pivoted part adapted to encounter in its path of movement the said. element, whereby the force of said spring actin upon the shifted Amechanism throws or turns it from one position to the other with a sudden movement or snap.

My present invtmtion pertains to a class of electrical switch involving another mode of operation, for, instead of varying the direction of the line of tension of a spring relatively to the fulcrum or pivot of the part to be shifted and thereby causing it to cross said fuh'frum, I employ a spring or springs, the direction olf the l'orcc exerted by which when in a state oiVl tension isalways the same, and I effect the shifting or movement of the switch by releasing the tension at proper times, whereby the shifting will be cll'ected directly or indirectly by the reaction of the released spring and in a direction determined by the side of the Fulcrum of the part lo be shifted to which the force is applied.

In carrying out my invention I use with suitable circuit terminals a contact plate or lever, and I pivot it loosely on a spindle, using, in cases where it deemed necessary, any

proper means for preventing too freea movement relatively to otherparts of the switch mechanism. Around the spindle I place a coiled or spiral spring, and the ends of this spring` I connect, respectively, to two plates or arms, also pivoted on the spindle. The spindle yis provided with a handle or key by which it may be turned, and the above-mentioned arms or plates are keyed to it, but with a certain degree of lost motion-that is to say, lugs or keys are carried bythe spindle which extend into keyways or cut-away portions of the arms-and as the latter are loose upon the spindle they are capable of a certain independent movement around the spindle. The spindle, when turned to operate the switch, encounters one of the arms and moves it toward the other. The other is restrained or held against movement by a spring catch or detent; therefore the movement of the lirst toward it winds up the spring around the spindle. The han dle which turns the spindle carries a projection or pin which encounters and sets free t-he detent and releases the restrained arm. At the same time a second detent en gages with the moving arm, so that one end of the spring being restrained the other by its reaction draws the released arm around wit-h great force and rapidity, and as a projection on the said arm is arranged to encounter the contact-lever the latter is shifted instantly. The converse of this occurs when the lever or handle is turned back, the arm iirst moved being new restrained from movement while the backward movement of the uru'estraintal arm winds up the spring. The

pin on the lever or handle springs or releases` the rcstraiuing-deieilt, and at the same time the arm moved by the lever is ln'tmght into engagement withthe other detent.

In this particular form of switch the movement of the handle eifectsthe shifting of the switch first by winding up a spring or bringing it into a state of tension and then .releasing aspring that shifts the contact-lever. It is obvious that what is here performed by one sprin may be similarly accomplished by two, for the movement and locking of one arm in an advanced position and thon releasing the other arm the equivalent to having a spring 'under tension by one movement of the han- IOO dle and releasing it bythe other. a simple spring, however, has many obvious advantages.

To explain in detail the mechanism by which I carry out my invention, I now refer to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is aplan view of the switch. Fig. 2 is a detached detail in plan of the swinging arms and detent. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the switch in the opposite extreme position in which it is shown in Fig. l.. Fig. Llis a view in side elevation of the instrument. Fig. 5 is a broken section on line 5 5 in Fig. l..

For convenience, in this instance the operative parts are mounted on an insulatingbase, A, upon which are secured terminals Il B', between or through which in the usual ways it is desired to make and break an electric circuit. In the center of the base set a spindle, C, to which the handle, key, or lever D is iixed. This spindle passes through two arms or plates, E F, and is provided with keys or projections l), which extend into the .keyways or cut-away portions c, to secure a limited lazy or lost motion between the spindle and the arms E F. Suitable washers, d, are inserted between the several parts that have an independent movement about the spindle. The spindle C passes through a sleeve, H, on which the contact lever or plate G turns loosely and around which is coiled a spring, I. The ends of this spring are respectively connected to pins e f set in the arms E F.

J is a post, to the upper end of which two catches or detents, I( L, are pivoted. A spiral spring, M, in this case surrounding the post J, has its ends connected to the two detents, and serves to draw them together. vOn the lever D is a projection or pin, g, which forces back and releases the detents from the arms E F when the lever is shifted.

The operation will be readily understood. Assume that detent K is in engagement with the arm E and the circuit broken. Turning the switch-lever then toward the engaging detent, the arm F is shifted, winding up the spring I. "When the pin g encounters the detent-K, it forces it back and out of engagement with the arm E, releasing said arm. The reaction of the spring under the strain imparted to it by the movement of the arm F carries the arm E around the spindle with considerable force. In this movement, which is Within the range of the lost motion around the spindle, the pin e strikes or pushes the lever G, and with a sudden and positive movement drives it into contact with the spring plates or terminals B B. The opposite movement of the lever D effects a similar shifting of the lever in the opposite direction. A post, N, is provided as a stop to limit the movement of the lever D.

In a switch of this kind, in which the contact-lever is shifted from the terminals without encountering others, there is little to pre- The use of` vent the movement ot' the lever, as it is loosely mounted on the spindle; but any kind of break or catch may be employed to retain it in position until shifted by the operation of the spring. In the example I have shown a light spring, O, forming a yielding detent for engaging with a pin, 1,extending down from the lever D when said lever is at break-circuit.

This principle of construction and operation of switches is one of great utility and efficiency'. The requisite number of parts or elements is very small and the construction simple. lesides this, the action is positive and*instantaneous, and a wide separation of the points of contact is readily and easily effooted.

IVhat I claim as my invention isl. The combination, with the pivoted contact-plate of an electric switch, of a spindle about which the plate turns, two spring-actuated parts adapted to encounter the plate on opposite sides ot' its fulcrum, detents for engaging with and locking the said pivots in a state of tension, and a handle or key adapted when turned to force the spring-actuated parts into position to engage" with the detents and to release the detents from such engagement alternately, as set forth.

2. The combination, with the shifting contact plate or lever, of two spring-actuated arms adapted to bear upon or encounter said lever upon opposite sides of its fulcrum, detents in position to engage with and restrain the said arms, and a lever or handle for alternately shifting or turning the arms against the tension of their actuating-springs into a position to engage with the detent and t0 release them from such engagement, as set forth.

3. The combination, with a spindle and a contact plate or lever mounted looosely-thereon, of two spring-actuated arms secured with lost motion to the spindle and adapted to encounter the contact-lever on opposite sides of its fulcrum, and detents for restraining the arms placed in the path of the handle or key that turns the spindle where a given movement of said handle will release the detents from engagement with the spring-actuated arms, as set forth.

4;. The combination, with a spindle and a contact lever orplate mounted loosely thereon, of two arms secured to the spindle, but with a lost motion around the same, and adapted to encounter the contact lever, a spiral or coiled spring surrounding the spindle and having its ends connected to the two arms, respectively, detents for engaging and restraining the arms, and a handle or lever adapted to turn said arms into position to engage with the detents and to release the detents from such engagement alternately, as set forth.

5. The combination, with the spindle, a contact-plate turning loosely thereon, and a han- IOO IOS

IIO

lie or lever for turning the spind1e,of two arms capable of a limited 10st motion around the spindle, a spiral spring surrounding the spindle, With its ends connected to pins set in said ur1ns,that are adapted to encounter the contact-leveren opposite sides of the fuloruni, und two spring-detents for engaging with the arms, und a pin on the operating handle or 1e- Ver adapted to force hack or release either of Sayid deteuts when Caused to beur thereon.

PAUL H. BRANGS. Witnesses:

THOMAS C. PRoVosT, MOSES J. DERBITT. 

